THREE DAYS OF FUN AND FROLIC...AND SHOPPING, TOO!!!

Three days of fun ahead and I'm SO looking forward to it! Four of my girl cousins and myself are leaving in the morning and driving to Watertown, NY to spend a few days just doing what we want to do, when we want to do it.
We are all staying in one hotel room (with cots)which is always good for many a laugh. I was kidding with a friend of mine today, that maybe I should bring extra underwear or Depends as we (the cousins and myself) have some sort of genetic issue that causes us to possibly have a 'wee' accident when we get laughing too hard. Trust me, we have all done it at one time or another. Sometimes it's the stupidist thing that will set all of us off. Sometimes, it's just the sheer fact that we're free of resposibilities and other issues in our lives, which allows us to truly forget and just have fun for the time alloted. CAN'T WAIT! Some are on a serious shopping mission as well. Me, not so much. I've pretty well finished what shopping I plan to do for this year. You never know though, there may be a treasure or two I must have.

My grandson is having an absolute blast at Disneyworld in Florida. He has almost a week there with his Mommy and Daddy doing lots and lots of special stuff. I've heard about his meeting with Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, and the two main characters from Toy Story. Today, he opted to stay around the hotel pool rather than the Animal Kingdom. He will have such wonderful memories. He was five years old last week. I remember when we took his Mommy and her sister( approximately around his age). I think that and a few other 'events' we took his Mom to gave her the love of music, theatre, movies, etc. In some ways, she is still that little girl with the same enthusiasm and excitement as she had the first time round. I love to see that excitement at any age.

I'm wondering how much my decorated tree brought at the live auction for the Festival of Trees. They will publish winners of the raffled trees, but not sure if they publish who won the auction bids and for how much. I'd love to know.

The day after I get back from Watertown, I have another craft show to do and that will be it for this year. I sure hope I do better than the last disaster!

Well, still have a few things to get done before I leave, so I better get going. I actually manicured my nails for the first time in a long time. It's kind of fun to dress up a notch for this trip. I've been so busy doing glass blocks and plates, my hands have been ignored.

We have yet to get any snow, so I'm hoping it stays that way until we get back. I must admit, however, that I love fresh snowfall Christmas eve and Christmas Day.

TO MY AMERICAN FAMILY AND FRIENDS.....HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!

Well, it's been a week since I've posted to my blog and finally have a a bit of time to catch up on things.

Since we last connected, I managed to make four large and four small dark fruitcakes. I personally don't like fruitcake but my husband, my father, my girlfriend and my brother and sister-in-law all love it. My husband says he'd rather have fruitcake and steamed pudding with sauce than any gifts. It's funny, people either love it or hate it!

Saturday, I did a Christmas Craft Show in Mississauga which was a total waste of my time. There were approximately 50 - 60 vendors and not one single vendor did well.
The advertising was almost non-existent apparently and was SO evident of that fact by the few shoppers that came. I don't think there were more than 100 people who showed up and none were in much of a buying mood. I sold two glass blocks. I just made back my table fee...won't do that show again!

Monday, I spent the evening decorating my tree for our Festival of Trees. This year I requested a white tree and chose black, silver and crystal decor items. This is a week long event with many, many things going on to raise funds for our local hospital. My tree was picked to be part of the live auction event on Saturday evening.

My husband and I went to 'Family Night' tonight and got to see my tree with all the other decor surrounding it. We like to go 'Family Night' as my cousin and his family perform.

Today, we also attended a housewarming for my cousins daughter. She is only twenty one years old and has managed to purchase her first home. It's really a lovely little home and she has put all of her own personal charm into it aleady.

I have to get some baking done for Friday night and plan a dinner, as my husband is hosting an out of town woodturner for an all day event on the Saturday. We will also put him up for the night.

Tomorrow, I'll also replace my plates in the Village Tea Room with ones with Christmas and holiday themes. The owner also wants to put a few glass blocks in as well...yeah!

I'm SO looking forward to Monday through Wednesday next week. No obligations, other than plain fun. Four of my cousins and myself are going to Watertown, NY to do nothing but shop, eat, drink, laugh, and talk and talk and talk. We are also going down to Syracuse for one day as well. We all have had so much going on and family issues for some that each of us can't wait to get away from it all and just 'hang out'.


In closing, tomorrow is American Thanksgiving, but it's also my grandson's 5th birthday......
'Happy Birthday, Little Man'!!
It will be a very special birthday for him to remember. His Mommy and Daddy are taking him to Disneyworld for five days with all kinds of special things planned. I'll get to talk to him via webcam and hear ALL about his adventures. I can't wait!!

FISHING ENTHUSIASTS ---------- A GEM OF A DIFFERENT KIND!

I'm deviating from my usual Etsy shop features this time.
I have a friend that is an amazing artist in her own right. What she does takes patience, talent, a steady hand, and amazing creativity!

Art Flies are an exciting art form based on the hand-tied fishing fly. The feathers come from various exotic birds that moult. These flies are strictly for the 'art' collector and not to be used in actual fishing.

What a great gift for the fishing fanatic that has everything he/she needs to fish, but would love to acknowlege their love of fishing in a more artistic way.
Each art fly is one of a kind.

These could be purchased for a special loved one, a corporate gift for retirement or achievement, a competition award or just because you love the work these represent.

She frames them in many different styles, but I especially love the ones in the shape of triangles with wood frame on three sides and then enclosed in glass. If two of these were purchased, they'd make beautiful book ends for a den, library, or an office.

These have been purchased in the past by people from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Africa. Currently, one particular Art-Fly graces the Canadian Parliament Building.

For the triangle ones, she has the capability to have them laser engraved with a name, a company logo, or a tribute with date to signify the occasion.

Wouldn't one of these be a great Christmas gift for the fishing addict in your life?

If you would like one for a Christmas gift, please leave me a comment and how you can be contacted and I will have my friend contact you.

She is indeed the struggling artist at the moment and so deserves to have her 'art' out there for people to really appreciate.

HAND OF MAN CHRISTMAS SHOW AND SALE ........

Well, I'm slowly recuperating from the three day Christmas Show and Sale. Although this local show has been taking place for years, it was the first time I've participated.
I'm learning how much work it is to get stuff made for a show, packing up and unpacking, designing a booth, and dressing appropriately for a show. This particular show is done in our Memorial Centre, which is also the Juniour A hockey home. SO, for the show they put down plywood over the ice. Let me tell you, that you had better wear warm socks and footwear especially. After 5 - 8 hours, it really can feel quite cold.
As far as the sale itself, there were some really wonderfully talented vendors and everyone for the most part is very supportive of each other.
Sales wise, I did OK. I sold just under half of my glass blocks and only a few of my plates. Other vendors who've been at previous shows said the same. They did OK, but felt the economy and the fact we had unseasonably warm weather kept people away.
I had a few people take my business cards with an interest to order custom blocks. I'm not sure if that will take place but we'll see.
I was incredibly, incredibly tired at the end. By the time I got home and then unpacked everything, I was in bed by around 10:15 pm. Anyone that knows me, knows that's unheard of for me!

Unfortunately, I had to get up really early Monday to drive to Mississauga for two separate doctor's appointments. Tired is becoming my middle name!
I did manage to have dinner with a friend who is going through a lot. Her husband, sadly, died from colon cancer two years ago that spread all through his body and left her with a company to run, etc. etc.

I've been making more plates this week to take to a sale I'm participating in on Nov. 21st in Mississauga. Since I didn't sell all my glass blocks, I don't need to make any more.

Yesterday and today, I've been cooking as well. I made a huge amount of chili and today made a very large pot of chicken soup for the weekend.

We are having guests this weekend from Australia. She is the daughter of one of my best friends that also died of colon cancer 11 years ago on November 9th. I still miss her quite often. Her oldest daughter married an Australian and they are on an extended tour of Canada for the next year or so. I have never met her children and I'm so looking forward to seeing her and her family.

The next few weeks are so busy for me but it's all good.

I can't end this blog without acknowledging all of the armed forces personnel who have fought and died in the past and most recently. We all owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. Many of my relatives, including my father, fought in WWII, my father-in-law in WWI and most recently for me, my nephew has completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan. Thank you to those I know and those I don't know. You are appreciated!

ROMY AND CLARE...........FAVOURITE ETSY SHOP # 8

Well, I finally have a bit of time to feature another amazing Etsy shop! I've been so busy making glass blocks and decoupage glass plates for a Christmas Art and Gift Sale this weekend, I didn't think I'd get time to do this feature.
Having said that, I feel so strongly that there are SO many talented artists with shops on Etsy, I really, really want to spotlight some of them. Since Christmas is just around the corner, what a wonderful time to go exploring for that really unique gift for someone in your life.

These women are really deserving of a look!

PLEASE go visit their shop at

www.romyandclare.etsy.com

I've copied their profile so you can get a sense of who they are in their own words.

Romy and Clare Creative Clay began in 1995, but a lifelong friendship led us to this creative union. Our parents grew up together as friends and were in each others weddings. So, we've been friends since diaper days.

After college (Romy attended Herron School of Art and Clare graduated from DePauw University with a BA in Studio Art), we played, we traveled, and we both eventually made it back to Jasper, IN.

That's when we started putting bright paint to clay and gave the pieces to family and friends as gifts. The rest, so they say, is history. A local shop, art fairs, but mainly...friends told friends and Romy and Clare Creative Clay was born.

And now more than ten years later, here we are, a little older, with new responsibilities, like children, trying to juggle the challenges of modern day life as working mothers.

We design, paint and/or sew and sign all of our pieces in our studio...a hundred year old grainery often inhabited by cats, kids, and craziness.

With the spirit of fun and friendship, we hope that you enjoy our work as much as we enjoy creating each piece.

Romy and Clare

As I stated earlier, it's really worthwhile checking out what they are making and will give you another gift idea. Enjoy!